DECEMBER. 



861 



FIGS. 



[We hope in a future number to be able to follow Mr. Pcwell's 

 admirable plan, and present our readers with suitably compiled hsts for 

 the midland and northern districts, by equally eminent cultivators. Ed.] 



DRUMMOND CASTLE, PERTHSHIRE. 



THE SEAT OF LADY WILLOUGHBY D'ERESBY. 



The flower-garden at Drummond Castle has been so justly admired 

 by all who have seen it, that we consider a few notes on it, made 

 during a recent visit to it, will not be unacceptable to our readers. 



The approach to the Castle is from the Greenhaning and Crieff road, 

 to which the Park extends, at a point some ten or eleven miles from 

 the former, a station on the Scottish Central Railway, between Stirling 

 and Perth. The Park is of large extent, and presents great variety 

 of surface, carpeted with the richest verdure, and containing grand 

 masses of old forest trees, interspersed with more modern plantations. 

 The Castle crowns the crest of a ridge composed of the prevailing rock 

 of the district — trap and whinstone — which, commencing in the Park 

 to the east, terminates abruptly at this point; this gives the Castle a 

 commanding position, and one difficult of access, as it is surrounded on 

 three sides by a deep ravine — a point of much importance in the 

 troubled times of Scottish history, in which its noble owners, who held 

 sovereign sway over miles of the surrounding country, took so con- 

 spicuous a part, continuing to the last faithful to the house of Stuart, 

 whose cause they at all times loyally espoused. In forming the 

 approach road to the Castle it has been conducted along this ridge 

 (which has a gradual ascent) nearly to the Castle, when the road 

 winds to the right, under the Castle walls, to get an easy access to the 

 court-yard, situate to the west of the main building. The view from 

 this approach to the right (going towards the Castle) is particularly 

 striking ; an artificial loch, or lake as we in England should call it, 

 covers more than 100 acres of the bottom of the valley, its further 

 shore being beautifully fringed with wood, and rocky cliffs ; further on, 

 the town of Crieff meets the eye, and has a fine effect seen over the 



